Together with the Traditional Owners of The Kimberley, the Balanggarra people in the north and the Ngarinyin in the south, the team behind El Questro Homestead see themselves as custodians of this precious swathe of truly wild Country. They aim to preserve it for the future and share its wonders with guests. View case study
The Balanggarra people obtained Native Title recognition in 2014 and are the Traditional Owners of the northern parts of the property. The Ngarinyin people of the Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) are determined for the southern section of El Questro. In November 2022, a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) was reached between the WAC and the Western Australian Government, which included a 99-year lease for G’Day Group to conduct tourism activities over the whole of the former pastoral lease area.
The agreement will see the G’day Group purchase carbon credits from WAC that will enable the property to operate with net zero emissions. It will also enable the company to roll out its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities, including improved waste water and land management practices. The ILUA also guarantees ongoing employment and training for local Indigenous youth.
The Savannah Guides network of professional tour guides and tourism operators – of which El Questro is a member – fosters ecologically sensitive interpretive tourism. Members of the organisation must demonstrate a commitment to conservation values and meet strict standards of operation. Savannah Guides are dedicated to passing on their extensive knowledge of the Kimberley to visitors.
El Questro’s rangers customise itineraries for guests that may incorporate a guided private cruise along the three-kilometre-long Chamberlain Gorge, watching for wildlife such as rock wallabies, Johnston crocodiles and archer fish; or an early morning bird-watching excursion spotting some of the hundred bird species on the property, such as the resident pair of dancing brolgas or the endangered Gouldian finch.
The Luxury Lodges of Australia brochure has become a treasured and widely recognisable ‘go to’ for Australian experiential luxury, enjoyed both online and in printed form at our lodges. The brochure is available to view or download in eight languages below.